Furnace



G. J. HAGAN.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 19l8- Patented June 21, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- INVENTOR G. J. HAGAN FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED NO-V. 1, 1918. 1,382,503. Patented June 21, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FIE-5.2.

INVENTOR HAW; M

G. J. HAGAN.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1918.

at i Q i Mum/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. HAGAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

summon Application filed November -1, 1918. Serial No. 260,681.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. HAGAN, re-

siding at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, citizen of the United States, have invented or discovcred certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces, of whichimprovements the following is a specification. The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in furnaces and has for its object the provision of means for preventin the formation of large masses of clinker adjacent to the point. of ash discharge and the disintegration of masses formed anterior to their discharge from the ash support. The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a furnace embodying a front stoking mechanism combined with the improvement claimed herein; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a furnace embodying a center retort stoking mechanism and having the improvement set forth herein combined therewith; Fig. 3 and Fig. t are sectional views illustrating respectively certain modifications; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the ash supporting means and parts adjacent thereto, and Fig 6 is a detail view showing a manner of controlling the flow of water to the ash plate.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the improved ash supporting member can be combined with stoking mechanism where the movements of the fuel into and through the furnace are in the same direction and by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the ash dump plate can be combined with a stoking mechanism of the center retort and side gate type. The dump plate 1 which is arranged to receive ashes, etc., as they are discharged from the fuel supporting member or members 2 is made hollow, and water is supplied thereto in any suitable manner, as for example, through a pipe 3, leading from a suitable source of supply. The plate is so constructed or supported and the supply of water is so regulated as to maintain a steam space within the plate, and the wall of the portion forming the steam space is perforated to permit of steam being discharged into the ashes. It is preferred that the perforations should be so arranged that jets of steam will be directed against ashes,

etc., as they pass off of the fuel supporting surfaces, and also against material resting on the plate.

In the construction shown herein, provision is made for shifting the ashplate .to cause a discharge of ashes, etc., into the pit. Such discharge may be either continuous or intermittent. Inxthe construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the dump plate is arranged to receive the ashes, etc, from the fuel supporting surfaces, and to move them across such plate to the discharge edge thereof. In the construction shown, the fuel supporting surfaces consist of parallel spaced bars 2, some of which are movable to cause the fuel to move along the surfaces and onto the dump plate. In lieu of arranging the dump plate so that the ashes, etc, will be caused to move across the plate on their way to-the pit, the plate may be arranged with its dis-' charge adjacent to the discharge edge of the fuel supporting member or members as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

lVhile the invention claimed herein is not limited to any particular manner of supporting the dump plate, or shifting the same when a movable dump plate is desired, the

means-described herein have been found suitable where a movable plate is employed.

As shown, the plate which may be made in sections if desired, has an edge pivotally connected to an arm 4 on a shaft- 5 which may be rotated to adjust the position of the plate or to oscillate it with reference to the fuel supporting members. The plate is supported at its other edge by bell crank lever B loosely mounted on .the shaft ()ne arm of this lever extends horizontally under the plate which is provided on its underside with rollers resting on the arm. The opposite arm of the bell crank isconnec'ted to a rod 7 extending to the front of the fnrnach. This rod may be employed for merely adjusting the inclination of the plate. or if it is desired to oscillatc the plate vertically, the rod can be connected to a lever B, operative by the fuel feeding plunger 9 or other suitable means. The oscillation of the plate in line or approximately in line with the fuel supporting surfaces. can be effected by any suitable means, as for example by connect ing an arm 10 secured to the shaft 5 to mechanism employed for feeding fucl to the furnace. in the construction shown in Fig. 1, the arm 10 is connected by a rod 11 to a lever 12, operative by the fuel feed plunger, while in the form of mechanism shown in Fig. 2, the arm 10 is engaged by a pin on a sliding bar 13 operative by the fuel feeding mechanism, as shown and described in application Serial Number 218269, filed February 20th, i918. In Fig. 2 is shown another form of mechanism for shifting the dump plat, on its pivotal support, an arm of the bellcrank 6 being connected by a link to an arm 14: on a shaft 15 on which is secured a toothed segment 16 adapted to be shifted by a worm 17. i

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the position of the dump plate is reversed, its discharge edge being adjacent to the discharge end of the fuel supporting members. In this arrangement the ashes, etc;, will in part drop direct into the ash pit, passing between the dump plate and members 2, and in part onto the plate, dependent on the angular position of the plate. The plate an be rocked on its pivotal support either continuously or at intervals, as may be desired, by mechanism similar to that hereinbefore described, and may also be reciprocated to ward and from the fuel supporting members.

When the plate is used in combination With movable fuel supporting members, or when the plate is reciprocated toward and from the members 2, the relative movements of the members and plate tend to push the ashes, etc., across the plate and hence it will. be necessary either to drop the discharge edge of the plate sufficiently to allow the ashes to slide therefrom from time to time or to rock the plate continuously on its pivotal support so as to prevent any'undesirable accumulation of ashes on the plate. In case no reciprocation of the plate relative to the fuel supporting members, is desired, the water supply pipe 3 may form the pivotal support for the plate, as shown in Fig. 4.

In such case the plate may be shifted intermittently or continually on its pivotal suport.

p The construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is desirable as any clinker moved over the plate will be cooled by contact with the plate and will also be subjected to the action of the steam jets before they come into contact with the furnace Wall.

In order to form ample space for the segregation of the steam from the water in all positions of the plate, it is preferred that the plate should be enlarged at its pivotal end, thereby forming a steam collecting chamber which Will always be above the level of the water in the plate.

Any suitable means may be employed for regulating the flow of water to the plate in order to maintain an approximately constant level of Water therein. As for example, a form of apparatus shown in Fig. 6 can be employed. The water supply pipe 3 is connected to a tank 19 ata point below the level of water maintained therein and a nine 20 arranged withinthe pipe 3 and having its inner end in communication with the steam space in the dump plate is also connected to the tank in order to equalize pressures iuthe dump plate and tank. A predetermined level of water is maintained in the tank and dump plate by means of a valve controlling the flow of water from the inlet chamber 22 into the tank, the said valve being shiftable by a float 23.

'hen employing the form of water cooled dump plate shown herein the Walls of the enlargement or steam space are perforated for the escape of steam, as hereinbefore de-v scribed. It is preferred that some of the perforations be arranged to direct steam jets on the material as it passes from the fuel supporting members, thereby effecting a considerable disintegration of clinker at that point, while other perforations are arranged to direct jets of steam against the material after it has passed onto thedump plate. \Vhen the plate is arranged as shown in Figs. 3 and st, perforations should be arranged to direct jets of steam along the Wall of the furnace so that the clinker may be cooled and disintegrated before coming into contact with the wall of the furnace.

I claim .herein asmy invention i. In a furnace the combination of fuel supporting members and a water cooled ash supporting member so arranged between the discharge portions of the fuel supporting members and the rear wall of the furnace as to protect the rear wall of the furnace from adherence of clinker thereto, the fuel and ash supporting members being movable to effect the movementof the material through the furnace.

2. In a furnace the combination of a fuel supporting member, a hollow ash supporting member having perforations in the wall above the normal level of water therein and means for maintaining a supply of water at such normal level in the ash supporting member.

3. In a furnace the combination of fuel supporting members, a hollow ash supporting member having an enlargement along one edge thereof and thewall of the enlargement being perforated for the escape of steam and water supplying means adapted to maintain the water in said memberat a level below the perforations.

4. In a furnace the combination of movable fuel supporting members, means for shifting such members to effect a movement of fuel through the furnace, a movable hollow ash supporting member, means for supplying water to said member and maintaining the water at or ap roximately at a predetermined level, the Wall of said member being perforated above such level and means for shifting the ash supporting member to effect a movement of the ashes therefrom.

5. In a furnace the combination of movable fuel supporting members, means for shifting such members to effect a movement of the fuel through the furnace, a hollow ash supporting member arranged adjacent to the discharge ends of the fuel supporting members and having an enlargement ex- 10 tending above its main or body portion, a vertical all of such enlargement being perforated for the escape of steam and means for supplying water to such ash supporting member.

my hand.

GEORGE J. HAGAN. 

